The bishop of Galle makes an appeal during Lent to the faithful “not [to] confine ourselves only to external rituals”. Stronger ties of brotherhood can lead to peace in society. Tamils and Sinhalese share religious ethnic traits. People must overcome the desire to find culprits. A new mindset is needed.
A Buddhist group organises a silent protest in Sri Lanka’s capital. Top monks from five Colombo temples visit four mosques in Ratmalana and Mount Lavinia. They call for living together “as one community”, slam communalism aroused “by various interested parties”.
The country is under a state of emergency. Social media have been blocked to prevent the spread of fake news. The country’s Catholic bishops urge people "not let no one add fuel to fire”. Sri Lankans must learn from the past to avoid plunging the country into a new conflict.
A ten-day nation-wide state of emergency has been imposed after the death of a Sinhalese man sparked attacks against Muslim-owned businesses. Police used tear gas to disperse Buddhist radicals. The country is on the brink of a new civil war.
The annual ceremony took place on February 24th. Many faithful come to give thanks for the blessings received. The healing of crippling pain; help received for the education of children; the cell phone found.
A riot broke out after rumours spread that a Muslim-run hotel served food mixed with sterility pills. Last year marked a rise in Buddhist nationalist sentiment.
Representing the two communities, Mgr Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam and Mgr Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe concelebrated the solemn Mass. The Sri Lankan Navy organised the feast, including meals, shelters for pilgrims and temporary piers for their boats.
Under the One Billion Rising global movement banner in Sri Lanka, women and girls write postcards with personal accounts of abuse and harassment to be delivered to the Minister of Justice.
In a tweet the government is invited to give answers to the families of the victims. The Kilinochchi protesters recall a year of protests, during which seven elderly parents died.
The former president's Sri Lanka People's Front won about 230 councils out of 341. The incumbent’s party only got just over 8% of the vote. Some call for early parliamentary elections. For others, the defeat should be a lesson to the government to keep its promises.
The inauguration ceremony took place on 3 February. The McLarens Group of Sri Lanka funded the construction. The new site includes a big stage for meetings, confessionals in the church, and a water stream around the building to symbolise purification (and healing).
The rally was held yesterday in Colombo. Free Media Movement activists want the perpetrators of violence identified. Most of the violence occurred between 2005 and 2010. Dozens of journalists were killed or kidnapped, and TV studios damaged.
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